Electrical baseboard construction



March 30, 1954 D. M. HEDGECOCK ELECTRICAL BASEBOARD CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 5, 1951 INVENTOR DARRELL M. Hansscocx ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 30,, 1954 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE I acvaaer ELECTRICAL BASEBOARD CONSTRUCTION Darrell M. Hedgecock, Snyder, N. Y. Application October 5, 1951, Serial No. 249,830 2 Claims. (01. s39 22) being simple to install, and involving inexpensive components.

A further object of theinvention'is to provide an improved baseboard receptacle assembly wherein the position of the electrical socket ele ment may be readily adjusted along the baseboard to any desired convenient position, the

improved assembly being inconspicuous in ap-.

pearance, being easily accessible for changing the position of the socket element thereof, and being durable in construction.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view-taken through an improved electrical outlet structure accordingto the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken through the elongated housing oi the improved outlet structure of Figure 1, the view shown in Figure 2 being taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional detail view taken through the socket element of the improved out let structure of Figures 1 to 3, the view of Figure 4 being taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the socket element taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of a portion of the baseboard utilizing applicants improved outlet structure, one of the cover elements of the housing member of the outlet structure being removed.

Referring to the drawings, ll designates a baseboard of conventional construction, as employed in the usual room. The baseboard H is formed with a horizontally extending groove or recess 12 in which is positioned the elongated channel member l3, said channel member being of insulating material and being formed in its rear wall I4 with the central rib l5. Secured to the rear wall H! on opposite sides of rib l5 are the outwardly projecting, spaced, parallel conin the positions shown in Figures 1 to 3. The

conductor bars l6, l6 are respectively connected to the respective power lines in any suitable manner and by conventional means, not shown.

The longitudinal marginal edges of the sides of channel member I3 are formed with the inwardly projecting, opposing ribs l9, l9. Designated at 20 is a socket member whose main body is formed of insulating material and which is formed at its top and bottom edges to fit between the opposed ribs l9, l9. The top and bottom edges of the socket member 20 are formed with opposed outwardly concaved, curved looking ribs 2 I, 2| aadpted to resiliently interengage with the ribs [9, l9 and to secure the socket member 20 between the ribs l9, I9, while allowing said socket member to slide longitudinally along the housing IS.

The socket member 20 is formed with the re spective prong-receiving passages-22, 22 adapted to receive the prongs of' a conventional male plug 23. Secured to the rear surface of the socket member 20 are respective pairs of contact springs 24, 24 extending inwardly through the passages 22 and being spaced apart to receive the prongs of a plug 23 therebetween and to conductively engage said prongs. The contact members 24, 24 may be secured to the body of socket member 20 by respective screws 26, 26 engaging the body of the socket member 20, as shown in Figure l, and similarly secured to said body by said screws are the respective pairs of rearwardly projecting, spaced contact springs 21, 21 which are spaced apart to receive the respective conductor bars lt, IE and conductively engage said bars. It will be readily apparent from Figure 1 that the contact springs 21, 21 and 24, 24 establish electrical contact between the power supply bars l6, l6 and the prongs of a socket 23 when said prongs are inserted in the prong-receiving passages 22, 22 or the socket member 20.

Designated at 28 are respective rectangular cover plates adapted to engage with the marginal edges of channel member I3 at opposite sides of the socket member 20 to cover the housing l3 after the socket member 20 has been disposed in a desired position along said housing. The cover plates 28 are of convenient length and may be readily removed to allow the socket member 20 to be shifted in position. Said cover plates are provided with locking rib structure similar to the ribs 2| on the top and bottom edges of the socket member 20, whereby the cover plates 28 may be detachably and resiliently engaged with the ribs l9, I!) of housing l3 in the same manner as the socket member 20. The cover plates 28 may be of convenient lengths, whereby a wide range of adjustments of the position of the socket member 20 is provided, and may be of different lengths so that the housing I3 may be completely covered if more than one socket member 20 is employed with a given housing.

While a specific embodiment of an improved adjusable outlet structure for use in baseboards has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical outlet structure of the character described comprising an elongated channel member of insulating material adapted to be installed in a wall, opposing inwardly projecting longitudinal ribs at the marginal edges of said channel member, a pair of spaced parallel outwardly projecting conductor bars secured longitudinally in said chanel member, a socket member, respective outwardly facing longitudinal concave ribs at the opposite longitudinal margins of said socket member slidably receiving the inwardly projecting marginal ribs of the channel member, a pair of spaced conductive prongreceiving elements on said socket member, and contact means secured to the respective prongreceiving elements and slidably engaging the respective conductor bars.

2. An electrical outlet structure of the'character described comprising an elongated channel member of insulating material adapted to be installed in a wall, opposing inwardly projecting longitudinal ribs at the marginal edges of said channel member, a pair of spaced parallel outwardly projecting conductor bars secured longitudinally in said chanel member, a socket member, respective outwardly facing longitudinal concave ribs at the opposite longitudinal margins of said socket member slidably receiving the inwardly projecting marginal ribs of the channel member, a pair of spaced conductive prong-receiving elements on said socket member, contact means secured to the respective prong-receiving elements and slidably engaging the respective conductor bars, and respective cover plates formed with outwardly concave longitudinal marginal ribs lockingly engaging the inwardly projecting marginal ribs of the channel member at opposite sides of the socket member.

3. An electrical outlet structure of the character described comprising an elongated channel member of insulating material adapted to be installed horizontally in a baseboard, opposing inwardly projecting longitudinal ribs at the marginal edges of said chanel member, a pair of spaced parallel, outwardly projecting conductor bars secured longitudinally to the rear wall of said channel member and disposed in said channel member, a socket member, respective outwardly facing longitudinal concave ribs at the opposite longitudinal margins of said socket member slidably receiving the inwardly projecting marginal ribs of the channel member, a pair of spaced conductive prong-receiving elements on said main body, spaced resilient contact arms secured to each of the respective prong-receiving elements and arranged to embracingly and slidably receive the respective conductor bars therebetween, and respective cover plates formed with outwardly concave longitudinal marginal ribs lockingly engaging the inwardly projecting mar ginal ribs of the channel member at opposite sides of the socket member.

DARRELL M. HEDGECOCK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,965,170 Benjamin July 3, 1934 2,146,829 MacFarlane Feb. 14, 1939 2,244,883 La Ducer June 10, 1941 

